Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Pressure wave supercharger is an application of wave rotor technology that utilizes compression waves produced by high-pressure engine exhaust gas to compress the fresh intake air within the channels. The phenomena within the wave rotor channels are governed by compression and expansion waves initiated when the channel ends are periodically exposed to differing pressure ports. Two incoming fluids are brought into contact for a very short amount of time to facilitate efficient energy and momentum transfer, thereby exchanging pressure dynamically between the fluids by means of unsteady pressure waves. Since the energy transfer is based on unsteady pressure waves, correct matching of waves and ports is essential for optimum results. Mistiming of the waves in the channels is detrimental to the efficient exchange of pressure and low-pressure exhaust scavenging, which ensures minimum exhaust gas recirculation. Due to varying speed and load conditions of the unit to be supercharged, it is not always possible to maintain the rotor speed constant at the design point. To mitigate the effects of wave mistiming due to varying speed, a well-designed combination of wall-pockets was used in Comprex® pressure wave supercharger. The wall-pockets are the recesses provided in the endplates of pressure wave superchargers to create necessary pressure zones at desired locations. This thesis details an extensive qualitative and computational investigation of the performance of pressure wave superchargers with pockets. Numerical simulations of pressure wave superchargers have been performed using the wave rotor analysis codes employed at the Combustion and Propulsion Research Laboratory at IUPUI. This work also pays close attention to inspecting the numerical schemes and modeling of different physical phenomena used in each code. A comparative verification of the wave rotor analysis codes has been conducted to ensure that the same fundamental numerical scheme is correctly implemented in each code. The issue of low-pressure scavenging has been demonstrated by simulating the four-port (pocketless) pressure wave supercharger operating at lower speeds. The wall-pockets have been modeled using a simple lumped volume technique. The gas state in the lumped volume of pockets is estimated using the continuity and energy equations such that the net mass and energy fluxes between each pocket and the wave rotor channels are close to zero. The lumped volume models of pockets have been implemented in the four-port wave rotor configurations to simulate the pressure wave superchargers with pockets. The simulation results show that the pockets assist to maintain sufficient pressure in the desired zones to facilitate proper low-pressure scavenging during lower rotor speed operations. The Comprex simulation results have been observed to be in good agreement with experimental data and qualitative analysis. Specific observations on the performance of each code and comprehensive simulation results have been presented.

A single-stage pulse tube cryocooler was designed and fabricated to provide cooling at 50 K for a high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet, with a nominal electrical input frequency of 50 Hz and a maximum mean helium working gas pressure of 2.5 MPa. Sage software was used for the thermodynamic design of the pulse tube, with an initially predicted 30 W of cooling power at 50 K, and an input indicated power of 1800 W. Sage was found to be a useful tool for the design, and although not perfect, some correlation was established. The fabricated pulse tube was closely coupled to a metallic diaphragm pressure wave generator (PWG) with a 60 ml swept volume. The pulse tube achieved a lowest no-load temperature of 55 K and provided 46 W of cooling power at 77 K with a p-V input power of 675 W, which corresponded to 19.5% of Carnot COP. Recommendations included achieving the specified displacement from the PWG under the higher gas pressures, design and development of a more practical co-axial pulse tube and a multi-stage configuration to achieve the power at lower temperatures required by HTS.

Low cost cryocoolers suitable for long term use in industrial environments are required for superconducting technologies to be competitive with copper based devices in real world applications. Industrial Research Limited is developing such cryocoolers, which use metal diaphragm based pressure wave generators to convert electrical energy to the gas volume displacement required. This project explores methods of increasing the volume displacement provided by the diaphragms while ensuring the components stay within the acceptable material limits. Various alternative diaphragm shapes are tested against the currently used shape through finite element analysis. In addition to testing alternative diaphragm shapes, each shape’s dimensions are optimised. It is concluded the currently used design can be improved by offsetting the piston rest position and slightly reducing the piston diameter. A more detailed analysis is carried out of the bend radii created during fabrication of the diaphragm, and physical testing is performed to verify unexpected calculated stress concentrations. High stresses are observed, however it is concluded unmodelled material features have a large effect on the final stress distribution. It is recommended advantageous shape changes calculated in the first part of the work be trialled to increase the efficiency of the cryocooler, and that investigation of the material behaviour during commissioning of the pressure wave generator be carried out to better understand the operational limits of the diaphragms.

<div>Pressure wave supercharger is an application of wave rotor technology that utilizes compression waves produced by high-pressure engine exhaust gas to compress the fresh intake air within the channels. The phenomena within the wave rotor channels are governed by compression and expansion waves initiated when the channel ends are periodically exposed to differing pressure ports. Two incoming fluids are brought into contact for a very short amount of time to facilitate efficient energy and momentum transfer, thereby exchanging pressure dynamically between the fluids by means of unsteady pressure waves. Since the energy transfer is based on unsteady pressure waves, correct matching of waves and ports is essential for optimum results. Mistiming of the waves in the channels is detrimental to the efficient exchange of pressure and low-pressure exhaust scavenging, which ensures minimum exhaust gas recirculation. Due to varying speed and load conditions of the unit to be supercharged, it is not always possible to maintain the rotor speed constant at the design point.</div><div>To mitigate the effects of wave mistiming due to varying speed, a well-designed combination of wall-pockets was used in Comprex® pressure wave supercharger. The wall-pockets are the recesses provided in the endplates of pressure wave superchargers to create necessary pressure zones at desired locations. This thesis details an extensive qualitative and computational investigation of the performance of pressure wave superchargers with pockets. Numerical simulations of pressure wave superchargers have been performed using the wave rotor analysis codes employed at the Combustion and Propulsion Research Laboratory at IUPUI. This work also pays close attention to inspecting the numerical schemes and modeling of different physical phenomena used in each code. A comparative verification of the wave rotor analysis codes has been conducted to ensure that the same fundamental numerical scheme is correctly implemented in each code. The issue of low-pressure scavenging has been demonstrated by simulating the four-port (pocketless) pressure wave supercharger operating at lower speeds. The wall-pockets have been modeled using a simple lumped volume technique. The gas state in the lumped volume of pockets is estimated using the continuity and energy equations such that the net mass and energy fluxes between each pocket and the wave rotor channels are close to zero. The lumped volume models of pockets have been implemented in the four-port wave rotor configurations to simulate the pressure wave superchargers with pockets. The simulation results show that the pockets assist to maintain sufficient pressure in the desired zones to facilitate proper low-pressure scavenging during lower rotor speed operations. The Comprex simulation results have been observed to be in good agreement with experimental data and qualitative analysis. Specific observations on the performance of each code and comprehensive simulation results have been presented.</div>

This thesis takes a fresh approach to cochlear mechanics. Over the last quarter of a century, we have learnt that the cochlea is active and highly tuned, observations suggesting that something may be resonating. Rather than accepting the standard traveling wave interpretation, here I investigate whether a resonance theory of some kind can be applied to this remarkable behaviour.¶ A historical survey of resonance theories is first conducted, and advantages and drawbacks examined. A corresponding look at the traveling wave theory includes a listing of its short-comings.¶ A new model of the cochlea is put forward that exhibits inherently high tuning. The surface acoustic wave (SAW) model suggests that the three rows of outer hair cells (OHCs) interact in a similar way to the interdigital transducers of an electronic SAW device. Analytic equations are developed to describe the conjectured interactions between rows of active OHCs in which each cell is treated as a point source of expanding wavefronts. Motion of a cell launches a wave that is sensed by the stereocilia of neighbouring cells, producing positive feedback. Numerical calculations confirm that this arrangement provides sharp tuning when the feedback gain is set just below oscillation threshold.¶ A major requirement of the SAW model is that the waves carrying the feedback have slow speed (5-200 mm/s) and high dispersion. A wave type with the required properties is identified - a symmetric Lloyd-Redwood wave (or squirting wave) - and the physical properties of the organ of Corti are shown to well match those required by theory.¶ The squirting wave mechanism may provide a second filter for a primary traveling wave stimulus, or stand-alone tuning in a pure resonance model. In both, cyclic activity of squirting waves leads to standing waves, and this provides a physical rendering of the cochlear amplifier. In keeping with pure resonance, this thesis proposes that OHCs react to the fast pressure wave rather than to bending of stereocilia induced by a traveling wave. Investigation of literature on OHC ultrastructure reveals anatomical features consistent with them being pressure detectors: they possess a cuticular pore (a small compliant spot in an otherwise rigid cell body) and a spherical body within (Hensens body) that could be compressible. I conclude that OHCs are dual detectors, sensing displacement at high intensities and pressure at low. Thus, the conventional traveling wave could operate at high levels and resonance at levels dominated by the cochlear amplifier. ¶ The latter picture accords with the description due to Gold (1987) that the cochlea is an ‘underwater piano’ - a bank of strings that are highly tuned despite immersion in liquid.¶ An autocorrelation analysis of the distinctive outer hair cell geometry shows trends that support the SAW model. In particular, it explains why maximum distortion occurs at a ratio of the two primaries of about 1.2. This ratio also produces near-integer ratios in certain hair-cell alignments, suggesting that music may have a cochlear basis.¶ The thesis concludes with an evaluation and proposals to experimentally test its validity.

The use of check valves in the nuclear industry is of great importance from a safety precaution point ofview (McElhaney, 1995). Choosing check valves for these high-pressurized systems comes with agreat challenge. The valves causes what is called check valve slams when closing, leading to a hugepressure wave traveling through the system. To prevent this from happening calculations have to bedone to see what kind of forces are generated during a check valve slam. When the forces are known itis easier designing systems that will endure these slams. A commonly used software in the nuclearindustry is RELAP5 (Reactor Excursion and Leak Analysis Program), its main purpose is to calculatetransients in piping systems. This program can also be used when calculating a check valve slam. Buthow precise is the code compared to the real event? By doing an experiment measuring pressures created by swing check valves during slams, the codewas compared to real data and analyzed to decide what was of importance when modeling for thesetypes of simulations. The RELAP5 code was not initially designed to calculate transients during a check valve slam. This isclearly shown when the code overestimates the pressure waves in the system when using themanufacturer data for the check valve model. Matching the data from the simulations in RELAP5 withthe data recorded from the experiment is not easy. The parameters used for this have no connection tothe specifications for the check valve, which means that transients are hard to estimate withoutexperimental data.

<p>The MUSCL-Hancock finite volume method with different slope limiters has been analyzed in the context of a fast transient flow problem. A derivation and analysis of the axial forces inside a pipe system due to a flow transient is also performed. </p><p>The following slope limiters were implemented and compared: MC, van Leer, van Albada, Minmod and Superbee. The comparison was based on the method's ability to calculate the forces due to a flow transient inside a pipe system.</p><p>The tests and comparisons in this thesis show that the MC, van Leer, van Albada and Minmod limiters behave very much the same for the flow transient problem. If one would rank these four limiters with respect to the numerical error, the order would be the one presented above, the MC limiter being the most accurate. The error the four limiters produce is mainly of diffusive nature and it is just the magnitude of the diffusion that seems to differ between the methods. One should also note that the workload rank of the four limiters is the same as the order presented above. The MC limiter being the least efficient of the four and the Minmod limiter the most efficient.</p><p>In most of the tests performed the Superbee limiter display a rather negative unpredictable behavior. For some relatively simple cases this particular approach shows big difficulties maintaining the dynamical properties of the force. However, the upside of the Superbee limiter is its remarkable ability to maintain the maximum value of the forces present in the pipe system, preventing underestimation of the maximum magnitude of the force.</p>

The MUSCL-Hancock finite volume method with different slope limiters has been analyzed in the context of a fast transient flow problem. A derivation and analysis of the axial forces inside a pipe system due to a flow transient is also performed.  The following slope limiters were implemented and compared: MC, van Leer, van Albada, Minmod and Superbee. The comparison was based on the method's ability to calculate the forces due to a flow transient inside a pipe system. The tests and comparisons in this thesis show that the MC, van Leer, van Albada and Minmod limiters behave very much the same for the flow transient problem. If one would rank these four limiters with respect to the numerical error, the order would be the one presented above, the MC limiter being the most accurate. The error the four limiters produce is mainly of diffusive nature and it is just the magnitude of the diffusion that seems to differ between the methods. One should also note that the workload rank of the four limiters is the same as the order presented above. The MC limiter being the least efficient of the four and the Minmod limiter the most efficient. In most of the tests performed the Superbee limiter display a rather negative unpredictable behavior. For some relatively simple cases this particular approach shows big difficulties maintaining the dynamical properties of the force. However, the upside of the Superbee limiter is its remarkable ability to maintain the maximum value of the forces present in the pipe system, preventing underestimation of the maximum magnitude of the force.

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Un accident d’insertion de réactivité (RIA) dans un cœur nucléaire pourrait provoquer la rupture d’une gaine et l’éjection d’une fine poudre de combustible chaud dans le caloporteur. La réponse du fluide peut être violente. L’étude de cette interaction (Fuel/Coolant Interaction FCI) est importante pour la sûreté nucléaire. Plusieurs études et expériences ont été menées avec de l’eau ou du sodium ou sont prévues dans le cadre des essais intégraux du programme international dans le réacteur CABRI. Cependant, les conditions complexes ne permettent pas la mesure des grandeurs locales nécessaires à l’étude de la dynamique de vaporisation. En effet, effectuer des expériences de vaporisation violente avec de l’eau requiert beaucoup d’énergie et des équipements résistant aux hautes pressions, notamment pour reproduire les conditions de fonctionnement d’une centrale nucléaire de type REP. Il est ainsi intéressant d’utiliser un autre fluide, tel que le dioxyde de carbone, dont les propriétés thermodynamiques (pression critique, enthalpie de vaporisation...) réduisent ces contraintes. Néanmoins, afin de pouvoir comparer et utiliser les observations de l’expérience, il est indispensable d’établir et de vérifier des lois de similitudes entre les deux fluides. L’étude de ces similarités entre l’eau et le dioxyde de carbone a établi qu’en conservant la pression réduite ainsi que le titre thermodynamique, on obtient des rendements similaires pour la conversion de l’énergie thermique en travail avec des énergies mises en jeu divisées par cinq. Ceci a permis d’envisager la conception et la réalisation d’un banc d’essais pour provoquer l’interaction thermique violente au sein d’un fluide. Afin de reproduire la cinétique de l’interaction, la géométrie du système a été adaptée. L’impulsion d’énergie au sein du fluide est générée à l’aide d’un filament de tungstène subissant la décharge d’une batterie de condensateurs à l’extrémité basse d’un cylindre. Au-dessus de ce cylindre, un réservoir de grand volume offre une source de compressibilité. L’enceinte contenant le CO2 liquide aux conditions thermodynamiques adaptables est instrumentée à l’aide de capteurs de pression le long du tube et des sondes optiques pour repérer la phase vapeur. Ce banc expérimental a permis d’acquérir des observations locales de la réaction telle que la montée en pression du liquide. Un pic de pression franc a été observé pour des impulsions d’énergie relativement faible, de l’ordre de 0,2 kJ. Plusieurs études sur les paramètres d’influences ont été menées. Notamment, l’influence de l’énergie, du diamètre du fil et du sous-refroidissement. / During a reactivity insertion accident, the temperature and the pressure rapidly increase inside the rod and can lead to the rupture of the clad and the ejection of fuel toward the coolant. Since the fuel could be finely fragmented, the thermal interaction between fuel and coolant (FCI) could create a pressure wave as well as a large vapor volume. Safety-related consequences of the FCI may be related to both phenomena. Past experimental studies concerning such a RIA related FCI are in-pile experiments in thermal hydraulics conditions that differ from PWR conditions. Therefore validation of a simulation tool from these data and extrapolation to reactors conditions is subject to uncertainties. This experimental study is devoted to the violent thermal interaction between a hot material and a fluid. An experimental bench has been designed. It is mainly a cylindrical tube, where the interaction takes place, connected to a larger vessel as a compressibility tank. To reduce the required level of energy as well as temperature and pressure conditions, liquid carbon dioxide has been chosen to simulate water in PWR conditions. Respect of thermodynamics similarity criteria allows to lower pressure by a factor 3 and energy per unit mass fluid by a factor 5. To produce the energy pulse, a tungsten wire is heated by Joule effect from the discharge of a 27 mF capacity. Design of the tank allows for a relatively long mechanical relaxation of the coolant with regards to the heat transfer kinetics. The pressure wave is recorded thanks to four dynamic pressure sensors along the tube. Two dual tip fiber optical probes allow characterizing the kinetics of vapor formation near the wire. The data acquisition system operates with a required frequency of the MHz range. This test bench allows to record the local behavior of the fluid such as the pressurization of the liquid. A very clear pressure wave have been recorded just after weak energy pulse around 0.2 kJ. The influence of some major parameters on these quantities have been studied. For example, the liquid level in the tank is increased between two tests up to be totally fu ll, so, the influence of the compressibility is highlighted. Also, three different wire diameters have been used to modify the heat transfer kinetics. Finally, several intensities of the energy pulse have been considered. All these studies help to improve the understanding on the thermal interaction potentially involved in the nuclear reactor safety context.